Preliminary hearing under way in Canyon Country stabbing case

SANTA CLARITA - Prosecutors presented their case Monday against a Canyon Country man charged with attempted murder in the alleged gang-related stabbing of a 20-year-old man four months ago, a court official said.

Steven Markarian, 19, appeared in San Fernando Superior Court for the first day of his preliminary hearing, a bailiff said Monday.

At the hearing — expected to take the entire afternoon — prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office were expected to present evidence in the case, after which the judge was expected to decide if the case should go to trial.

Markarian was arrested and charged with attempted murder in the attack on Aaron Matute. The stabbing occurred May 21 in the River Park Apartment complex in the 27000 block of Sara Street near Chelsea Way in Canyon Country.

Investigators in the case say the life-threatening attack was believed to be gang related.

Matute was stabbed in the abdomen and nearly killed in the attack; he underwent emergency surgery, according to prosecutors. He underwent emergency surgery at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital where he remained for more than a month after the attack.

Matute is no longer listed as a patient at the hospital, spokeswoman Katreena Salgado said Monday.